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Alec McCowen

Alec McCowen

Actor · Died February 6, 2017, aged 91 · Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Alexander Duncan McCowen, CBE (26 May 1925 – 6 February 2017) was an English actor. He was known for his work in numerous film and stage productions. Description above from the Wikipedia article Alec McCowen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 26, 1925
Died
February 6, 2017 (aged 91)
From
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 74 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Up 47% in 30 days

What are Alec McCowen's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Power.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Power
21%
Self
20%
Survival
12%
Morality
10%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 2 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 7
Herald
2 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Melancholic
8
Bittersweet
5
Romantic
3
Dread
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Alec McCowen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Alec McCowen's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

74 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Gangs of New York(2002)

    as Reverend Raleigh

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • David Copperfield(2000)

    as Jorkins

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • David Copperfield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jorkins

  • Longitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sir Frank Dyson

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Christian Aubrey

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Cruel Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Supt. Fish

  • The Age of Innocence(1993)

    as Sillerton Jackson

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Maria's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Father Eugene McCarthy

  • Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • The War That Never Ends(1991)

    as Thucydides

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • St Mark's Gospel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Henry V(1989)

    as Bishop of Ely

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Dialogue in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as David Hume

  • The Importance of Being Earnest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Dr. Chasuble

  • Cry Freedom(1987)

    as Acting High Comissioner

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Personal Services(1987)

    as Wing Commander Morten

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Theatre Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Chasuble

  • The Assam Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mr. Philpott

  • Squaring the Circle(1984)

    as Rakowski

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mr. Palfrey

  • Partners in Crime(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The Secret Adversary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Sir James Peel Edgerton

  • Never Say Never Again(1983)

    as Q 'Algy' Algernon

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Storyboard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Aeneas Sampson · as Palfrey

  • Forever Young (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Father Vincent

  • All for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Silcox

  • A Dedicated Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Silcox

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Trenchard

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Plays for Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Ralph

  • Twelfth Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Malvolio

  • Henry V (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Chorus

  • Hanover Street(1979)

    as Maj. Trumbo

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Stevie(1978)

    as Freddy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • When the Actors Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as The Count

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as The Count

  • The Sunday Drama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Lampard

  • Private Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Elyot Chase

  • A Man of Morality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Finn

  • Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as James Addishaw

  • Centre Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Finn

  • Travels with My Aunt(1972)

    as Henry Pulling

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Triple Exposure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Percy

  • Frenzy(1972)

    as DCI Tim Oxford

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Film '72 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Percy

  • The Hawaiians(1970)

    as Micah Hale

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Solo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

  • The Witches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Alan Bax

  • NET Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Antipholus of Syracuse

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Luther · as Philip

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Willie

  • The Agony and the Ecstasy(1965)

    as Cardinal

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Alfred Poole · as Private Secretary

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Antipholus of Syracuse

  • In the Cool of the Day(1963)

    as Dickie Bayliss

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner(1962)

    as Brown, House Master

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Studio 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom O'Neill

  • The Doctor's Dilemma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Redpenny

  • A Night to Remember(1958)

    as Wireless Operator Harold Thomas Cottam

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Silent Enemy(1958)

    as Able Seaman Morgan

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The One That Got Away(1957)

    as Duty Officer, Hucknall

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Rope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Brandon

  • The Good Companions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Albert Oakroyd

  • Time Without Pity(1957)

    as Alec Graham

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Town on Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Peter Crowley (as Alec Mc Cowen)

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Maurice Bouillet

  • The Third Key(1956)

    as House Surgeon

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Deep Blue Sea(1955)

    as Ken Thompson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Divided Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Reporter

  • The Matchmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Barnaby Tucker

  • The Cruel Sea(1953)

    as Tonbridge

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Quillary

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 74 titles from 1950 to 2002; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

Never Say Never Again (1983)

$55M worldwide

Highest rated

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Never Say Never Again (1983)

Film career

19502002

Peak 1971 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting74 of 74: 74 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score76th

By decade

1950s15 · acting1960s12 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s19 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s4 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
536383

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Alec McCowen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The War That Never Ends (1991)

80th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Night to Remember (1958)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Alec McCowen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles12–64 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles32–71 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 32 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 35 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 35 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Alec McCowen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alec McCowen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Geraldine Chaplin shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Mixed roles